Temp qsat Temp qsat

5°C 5.6 g/kg 25°C 20 g/kg

10°C 7.7 g/kg 30°C 28 g/kg

15°C 11 g/kg 40°C 47 g/kg

20°C 15 g/kg 50°C 80 g/kg

@ sea level pressure

qSAT = saturation specific humidity

SATURATION:


Represents the maximum amount of water vapor that


can exist in air for a given temperature and pressure.



T=20°C

qsat = 15 g/kg

q = 7.5 g/kg

RH = 50%

 Cool to

10°C

T=20°C
T=10°C

qsat = 15 g/kg
qsat = 7.7 g/kg

q = 7.5 g/kg
q = 7.5 g/kg

RH = 50%
RH = 97%



NOW LET’S COOL THE AIR EVEN FURTHER:

Cool to

9.5°C

T=20°C
T=9.5°C

qsat = 15 g/kg
qsat = 7.5 g/kg

q = 7.5 g/kg
q = 7.5 g/kg

RH = 50%


NOW LET’S COOL THE AIR EVEN FURTHER:

Cool to

9.5°C

T=20°C
T=9.5°C

qsat = 15 g/kg
qsat = 7.5 g/kg

q = 7.5 g/kg
q = 7.5 g/kg

RH = 50%
RH = 100%



NOW LET’S COOL THE AIR EVEN FURTHER:

Cool to

9.5°C

T=20°C
T=9.5°C

qSAT = 15 g/kg
qsat = 7.5 g/kg

q = 7.5 g/kg
q = 7.5 g/kg

RH = 50%
RH = 100%



TDEW = 9.5°C

Dew Point Temperature (TDEW): Temperature to which air must be cooled

to reach saturation.

When air is at TDEW, the RH=100%

WHAT IF WE COOL THE AIR BELOW TDEW:

Cool to
Cool to

9.5°C
0°C

T=20°C
T=9.5°C
T=0°C

qsat = 15 g/kg
qsat = 7.5 g/kg
qsat = 3.5 g/kg

q = 7.5 g/kg
q = 7.5 g/kg
q = 3.5 g/kg

RH = 50%
RH = 100%
RH = 100%

WHAT IF WE COOL THE AIR BELOW TDEW:

Cool to
Cool to

9.5°C
0°C

4 g liquid

water for

each kg air

T=20°C
T=9.5°C
T=0°C

qsat = 15 g/kg
qsat = 7.5 g/kg
qsat = 3.5 g/kg

q = 7.5 g/kg
q = 7.5 g/kg
q = 3.5 g/kg

RH = 50%
RH = 100%
RH = 100%

 Set Clicker Frequency to BB
Clicker Question

Air


Dew Point

City

Temperature

Temperature

City A

95°F


75°F

City B

50°F


42°F

City C

30°F


21°F

City D

10°F


10°F



Which city has the highest relative humidity?

(A) City A

(B) City B

(C) City C

(D) City D

 Set Clicker Frequency to BB
Clicker Question

Air


Dew Point

City

Temperature

Temperature

City A

95°F


75°F

City B

50°F


42°F

City C

30°F


21°F

City D

10°F


10°F



Which city has the highest relative humidity?

(A) City A

(B) City B

(C) City C

(D) City D

 Pacific

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
New Orleans

Water Temp = 80°F

Mexico

 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

AT BOTH LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO NEW ORLEANS

During day, land warms to 85°F

but ocean temp does not change
 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

AT BOTH LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO NEW ORLEANS

During day, land warms to 85°F Twater = 60°F

but ocean temp does not change Tland = 85°F
 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

AT BOTH LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO NEW ORLEANS

During day, land warms to 85°F Twater = 60°F Twater = 80°F

but ocean temp does not change Tland = 85°F Tland = 85°F
 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

AT BOTH LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO NEW ORLEANS

During day, land warms to 85°F Twater = 60°F Twater = 80°F

but ocean temp does not change Tland = 85°F Tland = 85°F

Air over water near saturation RH = 100% RH = 100%

 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

AT BOTH LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO NEW ORLEANS

During day, land warms to 85°F Twater = 60°F Twater = 80°F

but ocean temp does not change Tland = 85°F Tland = 85°F

Air over water near saturation RH = 100% RH = 100%

@ 60°F, qsat=11 g/kg
so, q=11 g/kg
 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

AT BOTH LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO NEW ORLEANS

During day, land warms to 85°F Twater = 60°F Twater = 80°F

but ocean temp does not change Tland = 85°F Tland = 85°F

Air over water near saturation RH = 100% RH = 100%

@ 60°F, qsat=11 g/kg @80°F, qsat=22 g/kg
so, q=11 g/kg so, q=22 g/kg
 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

AT BOTH LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO NEW ORLEANS

During day, land warms to 85°F Twater = 60°F Twater = 80°F

but ocean temp does not change Tland = 85°F Tland = 85°F

Air over water near saturation RH = 100% RH = 100%

@ 60°F, qsat=11 g/kg @80°F, qsat=22 g/kg
so, q=11 g/kg so, q=22 g/kg

Ocean air moves inland and

warms to 85°F
As air moves inland, q stays
the same. What is RH?

@ 85°F, qsat = 25.6 g/kg

 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

AT BOTH LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO NEW ORLEANS

During day, land warms to 85°F Twater = 60°F Twater = 80°F

but ocean temp does not change Tland = 85°F Tland = 85°F

Air over water near saturation RH = 100% RH = 100%

@ 60°F, qsat=11 g/kg @80°F, qsat=22 g/kg
so, q=11 g/kg so, q=22 g/kg

Ocean air moves inland and RH = (q/qsat)x100%

warms to 85°F RH = (11/25.6)x100%
As air moves inland, q stays RH = 43%
the same. What is RH?

@ 85°F, qsat = 25.6 g/kg

 New Orleans

Pacific
Water Temp = 80°F

Ocean

San Diego
Gulf of

Water Temp = 60°F
Mexico

AT BOTH LOCATIONS SAN DIEGO NEW ORLEANS

During day, land warms to 85°F Twater = 60°F Twater = 80°F

but ocean temp does not change Tland = 85°F Tland = 85°F

Air over water near saturation RH = 100% RH = 100%

@ 60°F, qsat=11 g/kg @80°F, qsat=22 g/kg
so, q=11 g/kg so, q=22 g/kg

Ocean air moves inland and RH = (q/qsat)x100% RH = (q/qsat)x100%

warms to 85°F RH = (11/25.6)x100% RH = (22/25.6)x100%
As air moves inland, q stays RH = 43% RH = 86%
the same. What is RH?

@ 85°F, qsat = 25.6 g/kg

 Set Clicker Frequency to BB
Clicker Question

During the night a cloud moves overhead. In general,

how does this impact the surface (ground) temperature?



(A) Has no impact on the surface temperature



(B) The surface temperature will increase



(C) The surface temperature will decrease

 Set Clicker Frequency to BB
Clicker Question

During the night a cloud moves overhead. In general,

how does this impact the surface (ground) temperature?



(A) Has no impact on the surface temperature



(B) The surface temperature will increase



(C) The surface temperature will decrease

 Set Clicker Frequency to BB
Clicker Question

If the night is cloudy (not fog), will the clouds help produce

radiation fog?



(A) Yes



(B) No

 Set Clicker Frequency to BB
Clicker Question

If the night is cloudy (not fog), will the clouds help produce

radiation fog?



(A) Yes



(B) No

 Radiation Fog in the
San Joaquin Valley

January 2004

S.F.
SNOW

FOG

L.A.